I would think that a Valmet or Tikka, being produced in Finland, would be able to handle cold climates. Finland isn't exactly known for being warm in the winters, and these O/U rifles have been used for years in all of the Scandinavian countrys. I've never heard of such problems from those I have met that own them. Nor have I had such problems using a SxS or O/U shogun in winter either. Even far above the polar circle.

Btw, I have heard that many of the bears shot in Kamchatka are often shot at rather long distances (200 meters?). Can the Tikka can handle that distance accuratly?

Erik